Breast-feeding and postpartum depression: is there a relationship?
OBJECTIVE
To study the relationship between breast-feeding cessation and the onset of postpartum depression.


METHODS
The association between breast-feeding and depression was retrospectively examined in an obstetrical outpatient sample of 51 postpartum women who were suffering from major depression and who had stopped breast-feeding. Self-report questionnaire data were obtained from the subjects; the severity of the illness and the clinical course of each subject were evaluated.


RESULTS
The majority (39 out of 51; 83%) of the women reported that their depression began the cessation of breast-feeding, while only 8 patients (17%) stated that their depression was subsequent to breast-feeding cessation.


CONCLUSIONS
In an outpatient sample of depressed postpartum women, the onset of depression preceded the cessation of breast-feeding. The severity of the illness did not appear to influence breast-feeding persistence significantly.
Misri
S
S
Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
Sinclair
D A
DA
Kuan
A J
AJ
D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D019052:Depression, Postpartum; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index